Bouncers at Cheers Pub in Roseland took bribes to admit underage drinkers; owner apologizes

ROSELAND — A local bar owner was at the mercy of the St. Joseph County Alcoholic Beverage Board on Wednesday after a recent Indiana Excise Police raid.

The raid last November uncovered more than 70 minors drinking in Cheers Pub, 103 S. Dixie Way, as reported by The Tribune's newsgathering partner, WNDU-TV.

“Security people were taking money, cash money, at the door or the back door to allow these minors in,” said Indiana Excise Police Officer Michelle Trauber to her fellow board members at the Wednesday meeting at which the board could have recommended Cheers be shut down.

“It’s been an emotionally traumatic experience, and you know, it’s taught me to watch our back. Make sure we’re looking out for the business first and not worry so much about friendships,” Cheers owner Steve Mihaljevic told WNDU 16 News Now after the meeting. “We had some people hired … they should have been better looking out for our business. They weren’t.”

Cheers has entered into a corrective action plan with the state. The bar paid a $2,000 fine, hired a third-party security company, and served a three-day suspension last Thursday, Friday and Saturday, that left it on the sidelines the entire Blue-Gold Game weekend.

It was estimated that the bust cost the bar some $90,000 in revenue.

The board ended up voting to recommend to the state that the Cheers Pub liquor license be renewed for one year, though board member Jim Caldwell voted against the renewal.

“We hope people give us another chance, they understand that we’ve, you know, made the changes that excise has requested of us, and we’ve made some significant improvements to the bar,” Mihaljevic said. “So, we just want to reestablish the trust in the community, and that’s pretty much it.”